A boy in Knoxville, Tennessee, has become an Internet star after an impassioned video about the bullies he faces in middle school. The boy has found a growing number of supporters including among members of the Tennessee Volunteers and the Titans.
Keaton Jones has become celebrated for ringing the alarm bells about school bullying after his mother, Kimberly, posted a video she filmed after picking Keaton up early from school because he was afraid to go to lunch. The boy said a bunch of classmates had been bullying him by calling him names, pouring milk over his head, and throwing food at him. Keaton’s impassioned video has now gone viral.
Along with her December 8 Facebook post, Kimberly wrote, “For the record, Keaton asked to do this AFTER he had he me pick him up AGAIN because he was afraid to go to lunch.
“My kids are by no stretch perfect, & at home, he’s as all boy as they come, but by all accounts he’s good at school,” Keaton added. “Talk to your kids. I’ve even had friends of mine tell me they’re kids were only nice to him to get him to mess with people. We all know how it feels to want to belong, but only a select few know how it really feels not to belong anywhere.”
It wasn’t long before young Keaton’s video went viral and came to the attention of some members of the Tennessee Volunteers, according to SBNation.
One of the first to react was the Volunteers’ Jarrett Guarantano who jumped to Twitter to say that he was trying to find the boy and his mother.
In short order that meeting took place:
The Vols’ Tyler Byrd also jumped to Twitter to announce that he and others are set to meet with Keaton and his mother.
Not to be outdone, the city’s NFL franchise also jumped to Twitter to comment on the boy’s video. The Tennessee Titans Tweeted out the hashtag #StandWithKeaton-.
Titans star Delanie Walker also came to Keaton’s support.
Offensive tackle Taylor Lewan joined in saying he wants to meet Keaton.
As Keaton’s story spread, a more people in the sports world came to his defense:
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston.